Holland, Hope College land swap is nearly complete, allowing for skate park

HOLLAND -- A land swap agreement between the city of Holland and Hope College is nearing its final hurdle, opening the way for development of a skate park at Smallenburg Park and new tennis courts near Holland Municipal Stadium.

The City Council on Wednesday approved vacating two parcels designated as public squares in the city's original plat, drawn up in 1848 by the Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte, who founded the city and college. They are Lincoln Park, which is used as a skate park, and Columbia Park, which has been used as an outdoor tennis facility.

Those two properties will be transferred from the city to Hope under the agreement, which needs final approval from the state.

"We're optimistic this process will be completed as close to year-end as possible," City Attorney Andy Mulder said.

City officials approved the land transfer agreement in August of last year, but because it involved property that had been designated as public squares, the agreement needed to go through Ottawa County courts. As part of the process, the city contacted 85 Van Raalte descendants to see if there were any objections to the exchange, Mulder said.

Ottawa County Circuit Judge Edward Post in September approved an order amending the plat agreement to allow the public squares to be vacated, pending City Council approval.

The agreement also calls for the city to acquire the Ferris Building at the corner of 16th Street and Fairbanks Avenue, which would be torn down. Hope will acquire property east of the football stadium for development of new outdoor tennis courts that will be used by both the college and the public. The college will also pay the city $250,000 toward the development of the new skate park, which is slated to break ground next spring, officials said.

Councilman Mike Trethewey, who grew up near Lincoln Park, had mixed feelings about the swap.

"It's going to be kind of sad to see the change, but sometimes change is for the better," Trethewey said. "I think it's going to be a good swap in the long run."